00:00As the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee finalizes their committee report, some revisions have been made.
00:05This includes recommending those involved be investigated instead of the original recommendation to file charges.
00:12Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulia raises concerns over this revision, calling it as politics only.
00:18I have more on this report gathered by Arad Lagosad.
00:24Politics only.
00:25This is how Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulia views the revision of the draft committee report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,
00:32where the initial recommendation was to file cases against several senators allegedly involved in the issue of anomalous flood control projects.
00:39It is now only being recommended that they be investigated.
00:42Earlier, the draft mentioned Sen. Jingoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and Cheese Escudero.
00:47Ano na yan eh, what is acceptable to all or to most is the most important thing.
00:53Kasi nga, nagkakapersonalan, siyempre may mga kaibigan yan sa loob, napipirma, huwag lang nasalagay yung pangalan.
01:02Ano na yan? May negotiation yan, may compromise yan.
01:05Despite this, Remulia stressed that what is important is that their names and records will remain part of the draft.
01:11The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier met with the Senate in connection with the draft committee report.
01:15Ang halaga yun eh, kasi nagkis na namin ang maraming kaso at nagkaroon kami ng laman sa kaso there sa Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.
01:27Doon naggalabasan yung maraming facts at maraming testigo.
01:31So, dapat igalang talaga ang Blue Ribbon when it comes to that.
01:35Yung trabaho namin naman does not rely on the Senate eh.
01:38Nakagkataon lang na maganda yung mga sinimulan ng Blue Ribbon Committee.
01:43Remulia emphasized that they are focused on the weight of the evidence that they can obtain,
01:47which he said helps guide the course of the investigation.
01:50The questions that still need to be asked and how these will be presented as evidence.
01:54From the said draft Blue Ribbon Committee report, he said the testimonies of the witnesses, now state witnesses, are important.
02:00He said these should not avoid any topic and that one of the possible actions is the revocation of their status as state witness.
02:07He added that many are willing to testify, but each one must first be developed or go through the proper process.
02:12Remulia also clarified his statement, telling Senate President Tito Soto III not to worry about his position.
02:18Running, parang joke yan, pero hindi talaga siya joke.
02:24Siyempre, pag may warrant of arrest, ah, arrest to him.
02:27Tsaka meron kami arresting teams.
02:29Totoo naman yan eh.
02:30So mga dapat arrest to him.
02:32Kasi sa legal system natin.
02:34Within our legal system.
02:35According to Remulia, the Office of the Ombudsman's Strategic Planning in Baguio is part of their preparation for what he called a big push,
02:43especially as the cases are now ripening.
02:45He said the coming months will be exciting and much awaited, with many tasks that still need to be done.
02:51This is Sharm Zespina from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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